Button-sewing machine



WLL. HERON AND W. D. NHCHENER.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm APR. 30, 1912.

1,366,109. Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

WHNELSS 4b 7% AW TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. BARRON. on mew YORK, n. Ann WAYLAND n. MIcHENER, or

ROSELLE PAR NEW J RSEY, ASSIGNORS TO THE SINGER MANUFACTUR- me COMPANY, A oonronarron on NEW JERSEY.

Application filed April 30, 1917. Serial No. 165,382.

To all whom it may concern: i

United States, residing, respectively, at New York, in the county of New York and titate of New York, and Roselle Park, in the county of Union and State of-New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Sewing Machines,

112,906, filed August 3, 1916, whichhas since become Patent No. 1,210,921, granted Sep' tomber 25, 1917.

Heretotore in machines for sewing on buttone, similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned application, the clamp for holding the button has been arranged to grip the body of a button peripherally or on opposite sides of the body or both. It not infrequently happens that the shanks or buttons, espcciallymilitary buttons with a wire eyelet, are off center or eccentric to" the body of the button but the previouscon strnctions are not commercial y suitable for holding an eccentric shank button Wltli ts aperture in re ister with the needle fl In the present invention the clamp is so organital that itgripsthe shanh' only of' tlie button and holds the eye properly in. the path of the needle whatever may he the disposition of the shank on the body of the button. In this way the objectionable needle breakage and waste of buttons occurring with the use of clamps heretofore in use is avoided. V

The invention is also cha 'acterized by an extreme simplicity of construction and op eration which will appear in the following description of the invention, the preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 Be it known that we, WiLIJniM L. BARRON and lVArLANn D. Mroi-innnn, citizens oi'the BUTTONESEWING MACHINE.

l speeifieat ionof Letters Patent. Patented J an, 1921;

is a perspective view of the clamp and ad acent mechanism in relative operative position on the end of a tubular arm machine,

a. only such parts beingshown as are neces sary to show its connection with what has gone before. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the clamp per se. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionon the line Ar-J3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and Fig. 5 in across section on the line C-D, Flg. 4., through the notches. i

on the free end of a tubular arml a raised worlosupporting portion 2 is arranged in any suitable manner and provided with a transversely arranged slot "(not shown) for permitting a vibratory needle 4: to cooperate in the formation of stitches with a loop-taker 5 arranged beneath the worl supporting portion 2 withinthe tubular arm. g i

l-MpreSser ioot 6*also lniving an openended slot 7 registering with that in the work-supporting portion 2 is arranged above the same. A bar 8 extends upwardtrom one sideof the tooth and is provided with,

a :triction'roller 9 embraced loosely by the prongs 1 1 oi a horizontally extending iorlied a l -111.12 secured to thefpresser-bar 10 in any suitable manner. The prongs ii. are spaced apart sufllcien to permit a linft d upward movement of the presser-bar rc' elevation of the presser-foot. in or der that trimming mechanism (not shown), which actuatedthrough the presser-bar and in part carried by the resser-toot, may be" givenitso era-tive movements after a" button has beenstitched in place. 1

Adjustably secured to the lower end of the pressenbar 10 by ascrew 13 and slot leis a block l5 tothe bottom of which is tongue and-grooved, as indicatedat 16*, a plate 17. A thumbscrew 20 tappedfl into the plate and an elongated slotfll in the block 15 permit of horizontal right line movement of the plate 17 toward and fromthepresser-foot' and worlbsupporting portion. To the lower face-ofthe plate 17 by the shouldered stud screws 22 tapped into the plate are pivoted a pair of jaws or arms 23 consisting of horizontal body-portions 24 and vertically er;- te'nding blade-like portions 25 notched as indicated at 26 at their adj accnt meeting edges.

The jaws or arms 23, constituting the vital members of the clamp, are articulated as lndicated at 27 by a mutilatedgear expedi- I ent and a spri'ng28, secured at its opposite ends -inany convenient manner to each of the jaws as by the screws 29, urges them together against the sl terposed between them in the manu r illustrated in the drawings.

z- Forconveniently' separating the "jaws or' armsf28 to permit. removal of the button,

lugs 30 are proyided on each member and are soproportioned and arranged that their 7 be obvious that the wedge 31 may he thrust betweenthe lugs 30 to spread the aws or suitable manner.

arms 23 against the action of spring 28 thereby releasing the button after it has been stitched in place on a garment or to material such as fabric, leather. 8 c. Turning of the wedge 1 out of cooperative relation with the lugs 30 is prevented by fixing to the pin a wire 32'. which plays in the slot 15, in the block 15. Depression of the pin 32 may be effected mechanically in any As shown on the drawings this isaccomplished by ng a wing or stopj3t to the 'lowerend of a rot 33 adjustably' securedin any convenient manner as by a screw"3 l to a fixed part of the machine. WV hen the .presser-bar 1S lifted it carries, the clamp bodily upward and toe pin 32' again t the wlng or stop 84- thereby spreading the jaws and releasing their grip on the shank of the button;

. The blade-like portions 25 of the jaws are cupped or dished. so as to conform to the shape of theunder side of the body of a bnttonwhich it willbe remembered is usually convex. This shape of the blade-like portions. is incicated clearly onthe drawings at Fig.2, 3 and @bviously, however, the blade-like portions may be var-1 ously shaped to suit the requirements of a varietybfstylesof buttons. The parts of:

- the bladelikeportions 25 which are remote fromv the notches act as a steady or rest for the body of the button radiall vor" its shank when the shank of the button is gripped by the worleengagingedges ot the blade-like portions close up to the junction of the shank with thebody of the button. Preferably the blade-like portions are notched ank of a button inthe spring 28 is a most excellent means for ur ing the, jaws or arms together upon the shank because its action is automatia wide variety or other and well. known mechanical expedients could be uscd for the same purpose.

The blade-like portions 25 are also cut awayslightly on one face at their lower pending: ycrti al ends as indicated by shoulder at so as to permit locating the eye of the shank well across the bend in the material laid over the work-supportinp; por tion 2 and transverse the needle-path. The shoulder Fig. formed by the clearance cut engages the corner of the fold in the material and tends to limit the downward mo 'cment of tho snoring-pressed pi'csscr-bar 10 and the extreme lower ends of the bladelike portions have a smoothing action in their descent tending to sharpen the angle or bend in the material when the presses is lowered as it may be by any suitable well-known means.

The clamp or button-holder is located wholly to one side ot' the needle-path and the prcssenfoot lies on the opposite side of the needle. The blade-like portions 2:) oi the clamp are in parallelism subshuitially "h the needle. it will be obvious from w observat ons thnt the operation of in a shank button in the applicants no is much simpler than in "Former constructions in which the shank button was IDOJ'G-i'l in the direction 01"? extent of the nccdie rather than transverse thereto as in the present construction.

The operation of a machine equipped with the clamp described is very simple and enables inoperative to remove and insert and position a button preparatory to another stitch g" operation with a minimum expenditure of time. Supposing; the machine to have been brought to rest by an aut maticstoppin" mechanism the operator by one movement elevates the presse -lmr. the presscr-foot and the clamp. in the cloizn tion oi the clamp the win; or stop 34-. positioned in the path of the pin acts upon the same to open the clamp suiiicicntly to permit ready release of the button before the clamp has moved a considerable or prohibitive distance from its normal opcratirc po sition. The operative advances the button imag ne with its shank horizontal into thespaoed blade-like portionsiof the j aws which are preferably separated a slight distance less than the maximum diameter of the shank; In this Way the button is loosely gripped in a very convenient manner. I \Vith the material or garment to vhichthebutton i to stitched positioned across the Work-sup porting portion 2 the operator has onlythen to lower the resser-bar when thesprin g Q8 will overcome the interposed wedgeBl and tightly'grip the shank-engaging edges of the bladedike portions upon the buttonbefore the clampndescends far enough to seat the shank. across the bend in the material.

l Vith these simple operations the machine may be started anew to stitch another but ton to the garment.

The foregoing disclosure relates to the )1'e'ferred embodiment of the invention but it is obvious that the principle maybe incorporate-d1 in a variety of other forms. The tubular arm for instanceis not vital and may Well be replaced by a flatbed. Again the vibrating needle may bereplaeed by a non-vibratory needle and a vibratory clamp used in conjunctiontherewith; In fact any stitclrforming mechanismmay be used with the clamp. which will enable thread to be east through andiabontan apertured shank. It will alsobe obvious that the presser-foot (i may be omitted for someclasses of work Where the extreme lovverendshof the l ws oiiblade-like portions conldbe relied the i11 article having a thread'receiving' eye formed in a shank PIOJGCtIHgiI'OIII the body ofthe article, said WOIlI-llOlClGI including means for gripping the shank of the article and holding the shank against bodily; siden movement in all CllIQCillOIlS and additio in means-cooperating therewith, to steady the body oi. the article against tilting in the.

gripping means whereby the shankof the article 18 maintainedin a definite angular relation to the clamp.

a 2. In combination, a sewing machine hav-;

ing stitch-forming mechanism including a needle and a Worleholder tor maintainingin thread-i'eceiving relation with the needle "an;

article having a thread-receivingeye formed in; shank projecting from: the oft the article, said work-holder including" means torgripping the shankof the article atthree or more spaced circle deiiningpoints and holding the shank against bod additional means cooperating therewilhxto steadythe hody oi the article aga nst tilting 1n thegripping nieanswhereby the shank Oil the article is maintained in a definitealign lar relation to the clamp.

3: In combination, a sewing machine hav ing stitch-forming mechanism inoludinga needle and a Work-holder for maintaining in threaclieceiving relation with theneedli an article having a, thread-receiviii}??? eye formedin a shank projecting from the body; of the article said work-holder including means for gripping the shank of the article and holding the shanleagainst bodily sidewiee movement in all directions and additionalmeans cooperating therewith to steady the body of the article against tilting in the gripping means whereby the shank of the article is maintained in a definit angular relation to theclamp said additional means being located at one side of thebntton.

it; In?combinatiom a sewinginachinehaving stitclrforming mechanism including a needle and a Worlvholder for maintaining in thread-receiving relation with the needle an article having a thread-rcceiving eye formed in a shank projecting fronrtlie bod} ofxthe article, said Work-l1older includi means for gri 'iping the shank of thearticle and holding the shank against bodilvsidewise movement in all directions and ad i4 tionalmeans cooperating therewith to steady the body of the article againsttilting in the gripping 1iiea1'1sNv'lie1'eby the shank oi the article is maintainedin a definite angular relation to the (damp, said additionalmeans I being located on the same side of the button ..y sidewise v and. (illilWlSE lllOVInQllt in all directn "is and as the gripping means and being integral 51in a machine for sewing on buttons having a shank projecting firom a body-portion, Tin ycombination, stitch-forming mechani'sm including a needle, a button-clamp in cluding a plurality of relatively movable members each having a thin bladedike portion provided 'With a shank engagingedge, said shank engaging edges being substantially parallel with tl needleandtogether forminga means for preventing bodily sidewise Inovementof the shank, andme ans for holding said engagingfledges in contactwith the shank.

6.111. a machine for sewing on buttons having a shankprojecting from a body=port1on, 1n combination, SliltGhd'OllTllIlg mechanism including a needle, awbntton-clamp in cluding plurality of relatively movable memberseachhaving a thin blade-like por time proirideldl with a shank-engaging edge,

.saidishank-engaging edges being substantially parallel with theneedle and together constituting ameans for preventing bodily sidewise movement of the shank, and spring means for holding said engaging edges in contact with the shank.

7. In amachine for sewingon buttons having ashank projecting from a body-portion, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, a button-clamp including a plurality of articulated and relativelymovable'members each having a thin blade-like portion provided with a. shankengaging edge, said shank-engaging edges beingsub'stantially parallel with the needle and collectively constituting a means tor preventing bodily sidewise movement of the shank, spring means for holding said engagingedges in contact with the shank, and means for separating said blade-like portions'against the action of said spring.

8. In a machine forhsewing on buttons having a shank'projecting. from a body-portion, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, a button-clamp includinga pair of relatively movable mem- I having: an apertured shank, in'combination,

stitch forming mechanism including a. re-

ciprocatingrneedle and button-shank grin. ping means, said needle and gripping means being relatively movable to loop the thread through the apertured shank andsaid gripping means including blades holding thebutton solely by itsshank and at the junction'of the shankv with the button body to hold'it in thread receiving position.

10. In a machine for' sewing on ybuttons stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating 'needle andbutton-shank gripping means for-grasping the button-solely by'its shank, saidbutton-shank gripping means being located, wholly to one side of the needle-path.

11.1In a machine for sewingon buttons having an apertured shank in combination,

stitchrforming mechanism including a reeiprocatoryand vibratoryneedle, a buttonclamp, a base-member, a work-supporting member mounted-on said base-member with itsupper face" at a higher elevation than said base-member whereby material may be arranged to present a shoulder or angle to the shank of a button, said button clamp including blade-like portions adapted to grip the shank of a button and normally ar anged substantially at right angles to the plane of the upper face of the work-supporting member, means for movably supporting said blade-like portions from above the base member and permitting them to be moved from an elevated. position down across and close to the face of the work-supporting member whereby the shank of the button may be positioned across the shoulder or angle in the material with its aperture in register with the path of the needle.

12. In a button-clamp for sewing on buttons having an apertured shank, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, a pair of relatively movable jaws each having a body-portion and a depending blade-like portion substantially parallel with the needle, said blade-like portions having work-engaging edges arranged in parallelism and provided with complementary notches for encompassing the shank of a button, oppositely directed lugs on each of said 'jaws, and a wedge movable to and from a position between said lugs.

13. In a clamp for sewing on buttons having an apertured shank, a supporting-plate, a pair of jaws pivoted to said plate, and articulated for equal movement in opposite directions a spring for urging said jaws together each of said jaws having a horizontal body-portion and a depending vertical portion adapted to grip the shank of button, and each depending vertical portion being dished or cupped to conform to the under side of a button.

1 In a machine for sewing on buttons having apertured shanks, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, a presser-foot and a cooperating worksupporting block having a folddorming corner, and button-holding mechanism including shank-gripping blades substantially parallel with the needle and cooperating with the block to "fold the material to which a button is to be sewed.

15. In a machine for sewing on buttons having apertured shanks, in combination. stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, work-holding mechanism including a block, and button-holding mechanism including blades arranged substantially parallel with the needle for gripping the button-shank at its junction with the body of the button, said block and blades being relatively movable and cooperating to bend the material into a sharp angular form to allow room for the shank of the button to extend over a portion of the material which is substantially perpendicular to the needle.

16. In a machine for sewing on buttons having apertured shanks, in combination,

llll

l l. (I

stitch forming mechanism including aneedle, work-hold1ng mechanism includlng a biocky and button-holding mechanism in cluding blades :n-1l: sta.nt:ially parallel to theneedle and located wholly to one .Sltltl oi: the

is die, and button-holding mechanism including relatively movable jaws havingbody portions andblade portions arranged at an angle to the body portions, said blade portions'being substantially parallel to thence dle and shaped to grip the button by its shank and to steady it radially of the shank.

18. in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, button-holding mechw nism including cooperating jaws having body portions and blade portions disposed at a substantial angle to the body portions, said blade portions being shaped to grip the button solely adjacent the junction of the shank with the body oi the button whereby the shank may be positioned in contact with a body fabric at the stitching point. j

j 19. In a machine for sewing on buttons, in combination, stitclnforming mechanism including needle, and button-holding mechanism, including a pair of cooperating relatively movable jaws having thin blades extending in. the same direction as the needle and provided with complementary notches for gripping a button by its shank on one side of the aperture therein and'between the aperture in the shank and the body or the button, said bladesbeing located wholly to one side of the path of the needle, whereby the apertured shank may project entirely to one side of the blades into n the path of the needle.

20. In a button sewing machine, in combination, means for holdmg a button solely by its apertured shank, means for stitchlng through and aroundthe shank of the button, and means cooperating directly with the button-holding means for forming a bend in the material to which the button is to be stitched, said last-named means forming the bend. in the material independently of the button. i

21. In a button sewing machine, in combination, means for holding-a button by its apertured shank including a pair of rela the button to a piece of material and means for holding the materiahwhilethe button is being stitched thereto, said button-hold- 'tively movable blades, means for stitching ing and work-holding means being rela tively movable in the direction of the ex tent of the needle to forms, bend in the material. 1

sharply bend the work thereon, button held by its shank in the blades may In. a machine for sewing on buttons,

ping jaws being pivoted for which; work may be bent sharply, a presser for grippingthe Work upon said member, and a button-holding mechanism including a pair oi relatively movable blade, shaped to grip the shank of a button and movable toward and from each other, and means for bodily moving said blades down past said corner of the work-supporting member to whereby the be positioned with its apertured shank in the needle-path in. unobstructed View of the operator.

23.'In a machine for sewing on buttons having metallic and apertured shanks, in combination, stitch-iforming mechanism in cluding a needle, and work holding mechanism including a work-supporting member and a pair oi grippingjaws, said gripping jaws being shaped to grip the shank only 01": the button and to steady one side of the buttonat a plurality of points spaced from the junction of the shank with the body oi. the button, and means for laterally jogging the needle and the work holding mecha nisms relatively to permit of laying stitches through and around the apertured shank 24. In a machine for sewing on buttons with apertured shanks of bent wire projecting laterally from its body, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, andwork-holding mechanism including gripping aws and a work-supporting memher having a sl1oulder,means for imparting relative and lateral jogging movements to the needle and work-holding mechanism, said gripping jaws having elements for gripping the shank only of the button and also having abutments with faces disposed transversely of the shank adapted to steady the shank side of the button, and said gripmovement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the needle and at the same side of the gripping elements as the faces of the steadying abutments whereby the shank may be projected over the shoulder of the work-supporting member and over material thereon.

25. In a machine for sewing on buttons having apertured shanks, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, means for supporting material includ ing a raised member having a material. bending edge, means for gripping and holding a buttonby its shank and with said shank above. and across said bending edge of the about said material; bending edge whereby stitches to be laid around and through the an apertured buttonshank may, be posibutton-shank.

tioned. on the raised member across an angle In testimony whereof we have signed our 10 .or: bend in the material thereon without names to this specification.

loosening the grip of the jaws on a, button, 7

said needleendfmeans for supporting mate- WILLIAM L. BARRON.

" rial vbeing iel a-tively-fmovableto permit 7 WAYLAND D. MICHENER. 

